Astros move Oswalt's start up to Tuesday

By Jose de Jesus Ortiz |
May 2, 2009

Because Roy Oswalt threw only 17 pitches in his scoreless first inning before he was pulled because of the rain delay, he’ll come back on short rest and start Tuesday against the Washington Nationals.

Russ Ortiz, who was scheduled to start Monday, will now be available out of the bullpen Sunday to help a day after five relievers combined for eight innings of one-run ball. Brian Moehler, who was scheduled to come off the disabled list and start Tuesday, will now start Monday against the Nationals.

“He’s fine,” Cecil Cooper said of Oswalt. “It was just too long to go back out there. I mean, it’s just way too long. When you get into the 20-30-minute range, that’s way too long enough. We just didn’t want to risk it.

“He’s fine. We’re actually going to bring him back on Tuesday. … Ortiz is going to be available for us Sunday. It gives us kind of a long guy in the bullpen. Then everything hinges on what happens tomorrow.”